Sumo in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya: Live Tournament Matches

Sit ringside with expert commentary and meet wrestlers over a traditional chanko nabe lunch

A 4-hour guided tour of Japan's official Grand Sumo Tournament at Kokugikan Stadium in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya or Fukuoka, depending on the month you travel. You sit with an expert English-speaking guide who explains the matches, rituals and wrestlers as they happen, and the tour includes reserved seating (B, C, A or S-class depending on your option), a sumo info pamphlet with rankings, and optional chanko nabe dinner at a local restaurant afterward. Minimum 15 guests required. If the group doesn't form, you get a full refund. Off-season alternative: visit a sumo stable near Tokyo to watch morning practice, meet wrestlers over tea, and share a chanko lunch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Attend Sumo Tournament Experience

• Join guided sumo tournament tour
• Watch live sumo matches
• Listen to expert commentary
• Learn sumo traditions and rituals
• Cheer with local fans

The experience

The sumo tournament runs six times a year on fixed dates: January, May and September in Tokyo; March in Osaka; July in Nagoya; November in Fukuoka. Each tournament lasts 15 days. You arrive at Kokugikan Stadium or the regional venue and join a group of up to 20 people with reserved seats on the second floor (B or C-class) for the standard tour, or closer to the ring (A or S-class) for private options. The guide meets you at the entrance with audio headsets so you hear the explanations clearly over the crowd noise.

The 4-hour session covers live matches with real-time commentary on fighting styles, wrestler profiles, and the rituals that frame each bout. Your guide walks you through sumo's history and traditions while you watch the bouts unfold and cheer alongside local fans. The stadium sells food and drinks inside, though you cannot bring your own. A sumo info pamphlet and ranking table (banzuke-hyo) are included so you can follow the standings and recognize the wrestlers. If there is a wait before seating (which happens because the arena waits for all matches to end before letting groups in), you may visit the Sumo Museum on your own. The guide will meet you afterward.

If you book the dinner add-on, the tour ends with chanko nabe, a hearty hot pot stew that sumo wrestlers eat in large quantities during training. The restaurant offers a vegetarian version if you request it at checkout. Off-season (when no tournaments are running), you can instead visit a sumo stable near Warabi Station, 30 minutes from Tokyo, between 8 AM and noon. You watch the wrestlers train in the morning, listen to the guide explain techniques via headset, meet the wrestlers over tea, and finish with a chanko lunch. This option does not include a tournament seat ticket because no basho is taking place.

What’s included

• Reserved seating at the tournament (B, C, A or S-class depending on your option).
• English-speaking expert guide with audio headsets.
• sumo info pamphlet and ranking table.
• optional chanko nabe dinner at a local restaurant (vegetarian option available).
• service fee for ticket arrangement and seating allocation. Off-season stable visit includes morning practice observation, audio headset guidance, tea with wrestlers, and chanko lunch.

Options for this experience

10 options

Tokyo Standard SumoGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Duration: 4 hours. Tournament venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan. Standard Sumo Tournament: join-in group with B-class or C-class reserved seating.

Fukuoka Join-in SumoGuide in English · Available from 8 Nov · 14:00Guided group experience with reserved third-floor chair seating; seat class may be S, A, B, or C depending on allocation. Duration: 4 hours. Tournament venue: Fukuoka Kokusai Center, 2-2 Chikkohonmachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, Japan.

Tokyo Private SumoGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Tournament venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo Private Sumo Experience: a Tokyo Private Sumo Experience reserved for your group only.

See 7 more options

Osaka Private SumoGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027S-class or A-class seats. Duration: 4 hours. Tournament venue: EDION Arena Osaka, 3 Chome-4-36 Nambanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan.

Tokyo Private (B/C)Guide in English · Available from 17 Jan 2027Duration: 4 hours. Tokyo Private Sumo (B/C): a Tokyo Private Sumo Experience reserved for your group only, with B-class or C-class seats.

Tokyo Standard with dinnerGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Tournament venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo Sumo Tournament with dinner: Tokyo Standard Sumo Tournament as a join-in group with B-class or C-class reserved seating, plus an add-on dinner.

Osaka Standard with dinnerGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Duration: 5 hours. Tournament venue: EDION Arena Osaka, 3 Chome-4-36 Nambanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan. Osaka Standard with dinner: B-class or C-class seats.

Tokyo Private with dinnerGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Tournament venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo Private Sumo with dinner: Tokyo Private Sumo Experience with S-class or A-class seats, plus an add-on chanko dinner.

Tokyo Private (B/C) with dinnerGuide in English · Available from 17 Jan 2027Duration: 5 hours. Tokyo Private Sumo with dinner: Tokyo Private Sumo Experience with B-class or C-class seats, plus an add-on chanko dinner.

Tokyo Premium Sumo with dinnerGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Lasts 4 hours. Chanko dinner: dinner is served at a chanko hot pot restaurant. Tournament venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Japan Awaits

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want seats closer to the ring and a smaller group experience. The standard tour works just as well for watching the matches and learning from the guide, but you'll sit on the second floor with up to 20 people. Book the dinner add-on if you want to taste chanko nabe the way sumo wrestlers eat it, or skip it and grab food from the stadium vendors during the tournament. If you're traveling during the off-season months when no tournaments are running, the sumo stable morning practice tour lets you see wrestlers train and meet them in person instead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

When do the sumo tournaments happen, and which cities host them?

The Grand Sumo Tournaments take place six times yearly on fixed dates: Tokyo in January, May and September; Osaka in March; Nagoya in July; and Fukuoka in November. Each tournament runs for 15 days. For 2026, Tokyo's January tournament runs Jan 11–25, May 10–24, and September 13–27; Osaka is March 8–22; Nagoya is July 12–26; and Fukuoka is November 8–22.

What's the difference between the private and standard tour seating?

Private tours offer A-class or S-class seats closer to the ring, while standard tours have B or C-class seats on the second floor. Both include the same 4-hour guided experience with an English-speaking expert, but private seating gives you a better view of the wrestlers and the action.

Can I visit a sumo stable instead of watching a tournament?

Yes, during the off-season when no tournaments are running, you can book the Sumo Stable Morning Practice Tour near Warabi Station, 30 minutes from Tokyo. The experience runs 8 AM to noon, includes watching wrestlers train, meeting them over tea, and sharing a chanko lunch with audio headset explanations from a guide. This option does not include a tournament seat ticket.

How far in advance should I book, and what happens if the group doesn't fill?

Book as early as possible, ideally three months before your travel date or at least one month ahead. A minimum of 15 guests is required to run the tour. If the group doesn't reach that number, you receive a full refund. Group tickets are released by the Sumo Association 4–7 weeks before the tour date. If tickets cannot be obtained, you'll be notified within four weeks and offered an alternative date or full refund.

What's included in the tour, and is dinner optional?

The tour includes reserved seating, an English-speaking guide with audio headsets, a sumo info pamphlet with rankings, and real-time explanations of matches and traditions. Dinner at a local chanko nabe restaurant is optional and can be added at checkout. Vegetarian options are available. Meals and drinks are not included unless you select the dinner add-on.

Are there any restrictions on what I can bring into the stadium?

No outside food or drinks are allowed inside the arena, but food and beverages are available for purchase from vendors within the stadium. If you book the dinner add-on, you'll eat after the tournament ends. Infants and small children can attend. Infants must sit on an adult's lap and do not need a ticket.